Apparatus for rotating a pipe

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided for spinning a tubular that includes a yoke having a first arm and a second arm outwardly extending in angular opposition from a central region defining a well for receiving a tubular. The yoke includes a center roller coupled to the central region of the yoke. Each arm includes an adjustable roller. Each arm further includes at least one rail for linearly translating the adjustable rollers to the arms to move toward and away from the central roller, where the rollers are detachably coupled to the arm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/972,904, filed Mar. 31, 2014, titled APPARATUS FOR ROTATINGA PIPE, which application is incorporated by reference in thisapplication in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to oilfield tubular spinners and, inparticular, a chainless apparatus and method for rotating a tubular.

2. Related Art

In drilling for oil and gas, it is necessary to assemble a suing ofdrill pipe joints. Thus, a tubular drill string may be formed from aseries of connected lengths of drill pipe and suspended by an overheadderrick. These lengths of drill pipe are connected by tapered externalthreads (the pin) on one end of the pipe, and tapered internal threads(the box) on the other end of the pipe.

During the drilling and completion of a well, as the well is drilleddeeper, additional joints of pipe are periodically added to the drillstring and, as the drill bit at the end of the drill string is worn, thedrill string must occasionally be pulled from the well and reinstalledfor maintenance purposes. The process of pulling or installing the drillstring is referred to as “tripping.” During tripping, the threadedconnections between the lengths of drill pipe are connected anddisconnected as needed. The connecting and disconnecting of adjacentsections of drill pipe (referred to as making or breaking theconnection, respectively), involves applying torque to the connectionand rotating one of the pipes relative to the other to fully engage ordisengage the threads.

In modern wells, a drill string may be thousands of feet long andtypically is formed from individual thirty-foot sections of drill pipe.Even if only every third connection is broken, as is common, hundreds ofconnections have to be made and broken during tripping. Thus, thetripping process is one of the most time consuming and labor intensiveoperations performed on the drilling rig.

Currently, there are a number of devices utilized to speed trippingoperations by automating or mechanizing the process of making andbreaking a threaded pipe connection. These devices include tools knownas power tongs, iron roughnecks, and pipe spinners. Many of thesedevices are complex pieces of machinery that require two or more peopleto operate and require multiple steps, either automated or manual, toperform the desired operations. Additionally, many of these devices gripthe pipe with teeth that can damage the drill pipe and often cannot beadjusted to different pipe diameters without first replacing certainpieces, or performing complex adjustment procedures.

In particular, roughnecks combine a torque wrench and a spinning wrench,simply called a spinner, to connect and disconnect drill pipe joints ofthe drill string. In most instances, the spinner and the torque wrenchare both mounted together on a carriage. To make or break a threadedconnection between adjoining joints of drill pipe, certain roughneckshave a torque wrench with two jaw levels. In these devices, an upper jawof the torque wrench is utilized to clamp onto a portion of an uppertubular, and a lower jaw clamps onto a portion of a lower tubular (e.g.,upper and lower threadedly connected pieces of drill pipe). Afterclamping onto the tubular, the upper and lower jaws are turned relativeto each other to break or make a connection between the upper and lowertubulars. A spinner, mounted on the carriage above the torque wrench,engages the upper tubular and spins it until it is disconnected from thelower tubular (or in a connection operation, spins two tubulars togetherprior to final make-up by the torque wrench).

Generally, a spinner comprises four rollers, each driven by a separatehydraulic motor, that engage the outer wall of the drill pipe to spinthe pipe. However, other spinners exists that use flexible belts orchains to engage and spin the pipe. An example of a chain spinner is theSPINMASTER® spinner made available from Hawk Industries. The basicfunction and construction of the SPINMASTER® spinner are disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,843,924 (Hauk).

In particular, the Hauk '924 patent discloses a spinner that includesfirst and second elongate casing sections that are pivotally connectedto each other at a pivot, and first and second driven sprockets mounted,respectively, on the casing sections at locations remote from the pivot.The spinner also includes a drive sprocket, mounted on the first casingsection, driven by a motor-gear assembly and a continuous chain mountedaround the drive sprocket, and around the first and second drivensprockets. The chain has an inverse internal portion adapted to receiveand directly contact a tubular well element to be rotated. Cylindersconnected between the casing sections pivot them toward and away fromeach other and thus, alternately clamp the inverse internal portionaround the well element, and release such element from the inverseinternal portion of the chain.

Some prior art spinners, such as the SPINMASTER®, are also adjustable toaccommodate pipes of varying diameter. These spinners are adjusted bychanging the location of the drive sprocket relative to the drivensprockets, thus the effective length of the chain is adjusted toaccommodate different pipe diameters. While adjustable spinners areversatile, these spinners must be manually adjusted by the operatorduring use. In many instances, the operator must climb atop of thespinner, disengage fasteners or locking pins holding the drive sprocketin place, manually adjust the drive sprocket to a desired location, andre-fasten or lock the drive sprocket at its new location. Manuallyadjusting the spinner can therefore be consuming and dangerous.

A need exists for an improved chainless spinner that accommodatesvarious pipe sizes, that evenly applies torque on the tubular and iseasy to repair and maintain.

SUMMARY

An apparatus for spinning a tubular is provided. In one implementation,the apparatus includes a yoke having a first arm and a second armoutwardly extending in angular opposition from a central region, whereeach arm carries at least one rail and where the first arm and thesecond arm define a well therebetween. The apparatus further includes acenter roller coupled to the central region of the yoke proximate thewell, a first adjustable roller slidably coupled to the first arm, and asecond adjustable roller slidably coupled to the second arm, where thefirst and second adjustable rollers may be linearly translated towardsand away from the center roller.

In another implementation, the apparatus includes a frame having atleast one arm outwardly extending from a central region, and a driveroller detachable coupled to the at least one arm.

A method of rotating a tubular is also provided. The method includesproviding a spinner having a central roller, a first adjustable roller,and a second adjustable roller, where a well is defined by the centralroller, the first adjustable roller and the second adjustable roller.The method further includes positioning the spinner about the tubularsuch that the tubular is received by the well, translating theadjustable rollers linearly towards the center roller, engaging thetubular by the rollers such that the tubular is gripped by the rollersat three points, and driving at least one roller to spin the tubular.

Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages ofthe disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in theart upon examination of the following figures and detailed description.It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features andadvantages be included within this description, and be protected by theaccompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention may be better understood by referring to the followingfigures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale,emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of theinvention. In the figures, like reference numerals designatecorresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of an implementation of theapparatus in accordance with present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus illustrating an adjustableroller system detachably coupled to the frame at the pin assembly ofeach arm.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus of FIG. 1engaged with a tubular.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 engaged with thetubular.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description of implementations below is presented for purposes ofillustration. It is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimedinvention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variationsare possible in light of the description below, or may be acquired frompracticing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define thescope of the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, an apparatus 100 for spinning a tubular isprovided. The apparatus 100 may include a frame 102, a center rollerassembly 104, a first adjustable roller assembly 106, and a secondadjustable roller assembly 108.

In particular, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one example of animplementation of the apparatus 100 in accordance with presentinvention. As shown, the frame 102 may include a substantially V-shapedconstruction having a central region 110, and a first arm 112 and secondarm 114 outwardly extending in angular opposition from the centralregion 110. Each arm 112, 114 carries a rail system 116, 118. The firstarm 112 and second arm 114 define a well 120 therebetween.

The center roller assembly 104 may be coupled to the central region 110proximate the well 120. Each adjustable roller assembly 106, 108 iscoupled to a motor carriage 122, 124. Each motor carriage 122, 124 isslidably coupled to the rail system 116, 118 of each arm 112, 114, suchthat the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 may be linearlytranslated along the rail systems 116, 118 towards and, alternately,away from the center roller assembly 104 in a fixed angular orientationrelative to the center roller assembly 104, as depicted by arrows 123.Each carriage 122, 124 is translated along the rail system 116, 118 by ahydraulic cylinder 126 coupled between the carriage 122, 124 at one end128, and a pin assembly 132 coupled to the frame 102 at an opposite end130. Each roller assembly 104, 106, 108 includes a drive roller 134,136, 138 directly driven by motors 144, 146, 148, respectively.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus 100 illustrating how anadjustable roller system 106 is detachably coupled to the frame 102 atthe pin assembly 132 (FIG. 1) of each arm 112, 114. As shown, each pinassembly 132 includes a coupling pin 202 that is received by a pair ofsleeves 204 coupled to a distal end of the motor carriage 122. Thesleeves 204 are configured such that an end 130 of the hydrauliccylinder 126 may be disposed in corresponding alignment between them.

As specifically shown, the motor carriage 122 may be coupled to theframe 102 by inserting the coupling pin 202 through a pair of orifices206 formed at a distal end of the arm 112. The sleeves 204 and end 130of the cylinder may be disposed between and positioned in alignment withthe orifices 206 such that the coupling pin 202 may pass and extendtherethrough. Once the coupling pin 202 is installed through theorifices 206, the pin 202 may be secured to the frame 102 by a dowel pin208, for example, that may be inserted into a pin hole 210 located and abottom end of the pin 202.

In the alternative, the motor carriage 122, and thus the roller assembly106, may be disassembled from the frame 102 by first removing the dowelpin 208 from the coupling pin 202, and then removing the coupling pin202 from the orifices 206. Once the coupling pin 202 is removed from theorifices 206, the motor carriage 122 may be removed from the rail system116. In this way, the roller assembly 106 may be disassembled from theframe 102 for maintenance, repair and replacement. Further, the rollersassemblies 106, 108 may be removed from the apparatus 100 without havingto disassemble the frame 102.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus 100 engaged witha tubular 302 or pipe. To engage the tubular 302, the adjustable rollerassemblies 106, 108 are initially translated to an open or extendedposition (not shown). The apparatus 100 is then brought into closeproximity to the tubular 302 such that the tubular 302 is positioned inthe well 120, between the roller assemblies 104, 106, 108. The hydrauliccylinders 126 are actuated to bring the adjustable roller assemblies106, 108 into contact with the tubular 302. Thereafter, the cylinders126 continue to linearly extend to pull the apparatus 100 toward thetubular 302 until all three roller assemblies 104, 106, 108 are incontact with the tubular 302, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the apparatus 100 engaged with the tubular 302.As shown, the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 may be translatedlinearly towards and, alternatively, away from the center rollerassembly 104 to accommodate tubulars of varying dimensions. For example,the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 may be self-adjusted toaccommodate tubulars with diametrical dimensions between approximately2⅞ and 13⅜ inches. In accordance with the present invention, the driverollers 134, 136, 138 of the adjustable roller assemblies 106, 108 willalways engage the tubular 302, regardless of its size, at a set contactangle of, for example, 120° relative to the x-axis (30° relative to thedrive roller of the center roller assembly 104). Thus, the rollers maymaintain a three-point contact of 120°, as shown at points 402, 404,406, to reduce triangulation of the tubular 302 as it is being spinnedby the rollers 134, 136, 138.

An additional benefit of engaging a tubular 302 at the same angle, forexample 120°, regardless of tube size, is that it enables the apparatusto engage the tubular with equal spinning loads at each contact point402, 404, 406. Moreover, the translating adjustable rollers of thepresent invention provide a mechanical advantage over rollers that pivotinto engagement with the tubular because rollers that pivot intoengagement require more torque to keep the rollers engaged with thetubular due to the moment arm.

In general, terms such as “coupled to,” and “configured for couplingto,” and “secured to,” and “configured for securing to” and “incommunication with” (for example, a first component is “coupled to” or“is configured for coupling to” or is “configured for securing to” or is“in communication with” a second component) are used herein to indicatea structural, functional, mechanical, electrical, signal, optical,magnetic, electromagnetic, ionic or fluidic relationship between two ormore components or elements. As such, the fact that one component issaid to be in communication with a second component is not intended toexclude the possibility that additional components may be presentbetween, and/or operatively associated or engaged with, the first andsecond components.

The foregoing description of implementations has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not exhaustive and doesnot limit the claimed inventions to the precise form disclosed.Modifications and variations are possible in light of the abovedescription or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claimsand their equivalents define the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for spinning a tubular, the apparatus comprising: a yoke having a first arm and a second arm outwardly extending in angular opposition from a central region, wherein each arm carries at least one rail and wherein the first arm and the second arm define a well therebetween; a center roller coupled to the central region of the yoke proximate the well; a first adjustable roller slidably coupled to the first arm, wherein the first adjustable roller may be linearly translated towards and away from the center roller; and a second adjustable roller slidably coupled to the second arm, wherein the second adjustable roller may be linearly translated towards and away from the center roller.
 2. An apparatus for spinning a tubular, the apparatus comprising: a frame having at least one arm outwardly extending from a central region; and a drive roller detachable coupled to the at least one arm.
 3. A method of rotating a tubular, the method comprising: providing a spinner having a central roller, a first adjustable roller, and a second adjustable roller, wherein a well is defined by the central roller, the first adjustable roller and the second adjustable roller; positioning spinner about the tubular such that the tubular is received by the well; translating the adjustable rollers linearly towards the center roller; engaging the tubular by the rollers such that the tubular is gripped by the rollers at three points; and driving at least one roller to spin the tubular. 